Obama takes gun control campaign to Midwest

The US president Barack Obama has taken his first trip outside Washington to promote his national gun control plan. In Minneapolis, he said the city had taken important steps to reduce gun violence and foster a conversation about further action.

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ELEANOR HALL: The US president met police in the city of Minneapolis today as he headed outside Washington to promote his national gun control plan.

Barack Obama says the Midwest city had taken important steps to reduce gun violence.

Brendan Trembath reports the ABC's North America bureau.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: At Andrews Airforce Base outside Washington, president Obama boarded Air Force One for a flight to Minnesota's largest city, Minneapolis. There he spoke to police about the city's success in reducing gun violence.

BARACK OBAMA: You launched a series of youth initiatives that have reduced the number of young people injured by guns by 40 per cent. Forty per cent. So when it comes to protecting our children from gun violence, you've shown that progress is possible. We've still got to deal with the 60 per cent that remains but that 40 per cent means lives saved.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: The police chief, JaneHarteau, says there isn't one easy solution to ending gun violence. She says one of their best partners is president Obama.

JANEE HARTEAU: We have a president who has always supported law enforcement and not only understands the complexity of gun violence, but has the courage to seek out and implement solutions.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: President Obama has many police on his side, but he's up against the powerful National Rifle Association and an enduring US tradition of gun ownership.

He hopes to move quickly while memories are still fresh of December's massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, that claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults.

BARACK OBAMA: No law or set or laws can keep our children completely safe, but if there's even one thing we can do, if there's just one life we can save, we've got an obligation to try.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: President Obama can also count on support from groups such as Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Mark Glaze is director of the bipartisan coalition.

MARK GLAZE: You have this unusual period of time where the public is really focused on this, including the president.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: He says there's majority support for background checks and bans on so-called assault rifles and large capacity magazines.

MARK GLAZE: So I think we're going to have a serious debate in the congress whether the NRA likes it or not.

BARACK OBAMA: And by the way it's really important for us to engage with folks who don't agree with us on everything because we hope that we can find some areas where we do agree, and we have to recognise that there are going to be regional differences and geographic differences.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: As president Obama was visiting the Midwest, a drawn-out gun drama was ending in the south. FBI agents freed a five-year-old boy held hostage in an Alabama bunker for nearly a week.

Special agent Steve Richardson said negotiations with Jimmy Lee Dykes broke down in the last 24 hours.

STEVE RICHARDSON: Mr Dykes was observed holding a gun. At this point, FBI agents fearing the child was in imminent danger entered the bunker and rescued the child. The child appears physically unharmed and is being treated at a local hospital.

The subject is deceased. The resolution in this matter is the direct result of the extraordinary collaboration between law enforcement at all levels.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: Dykes was accused of snatching the child from a school bus and fatally shooting the driver.